Razor blade sharpener



May 16, 1933. w. E. COBB Y RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 19. 1931 II! I 1 4- Patented May 16, 1933- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A WILDER E.COBB, OF SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 AUGUSTUS H.COBB, OF SALISBURY, NORTH. CAROLINA RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Applicationfiled March '19, 1931.-; Serial No. 523,864.

circular abrading surface to efiect the quick and easy sharpeningthereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel carrying means forthe safety razor blade, by which it is held firmly in contact with theannular abrading surface, during the use of the device.

Still another object of the invention is to i provide a novel means forplacing in and removing from position the blade holding unit of thepresent sharpener.

Other objects and-advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description of the same proceeds, and the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of thisspecification, with the understanding, however, that the invention isnot confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawingbut may be changed or modified so long such changes or modificationsmark no material departure from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claim.

a In the drawing Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional viewthrough the sharpener embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blade carrying table of the device.

Referring more particularly-to the drawing, wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 1 indicates generally the housing or casing of the presentsharpener, which casing is preferably formed of glass and alsoconstitutes the abrading element against the inner surface of which therazor blade to be sharpened is moved. In the form of the invention asillustrated, the easing 1 is of cylindrical design and is'closed at oneend by a cover 2 which may be detachably mounted thereon as indicated at3, to facilitate the disassembly of the device. Extending through theend cover 2 is an elongated sleeve 4 which is disposed longitudinally ofthe cylinder casing 1 and upon the longitudinal center thereof, asillustrated.

Passing through the sleeve-4 is a shaft 5 which is of materially greaterlength than the casing and which has upon its forward end the head 6which prevents its extraction from the sleeve 4 while upon its other endis mounted a crank 7 Carried by and extending transversely of the shaft5, at the inner end of the sleeve 4, is a pair of tubular'arms 8which'extend radially from the shaft in the manner shown each of thesearms being of a length, from the shaft to its free end, materially lessthan the interior radius of the casing so that a substantial clearancearea remains between the ends of the arms and the interior wall of thecasing when the arms are positioned therein, as during the performanceof a blad sharpening operation.

In each of the arms 8 is a core 9 which is removable therein but islimited in this movement by a pin 10 which is disposed in a slot 11formed longitudinally in the wall of the encasing arm. Between the innerend ofeach core 9, and the shaft 5, each arm houses a coil spring 12which normally urges the cores outwardly.

Connecting and carried by the cores 9 of the arms is a razor bladesupporting table 13, the top surface of which'is transversely arcuate,as illustrated, to conform to the arc of theinterior surface of thecasing, This table has the major portion of the top or arcuate' surfacethereof inlaid with a suit- .able friction material 14, such as rubberor the like, to hold a' blade in position thereon and in addition tothis the reduced'portion in the particular types of blades for which thepresent device is designed.

In operation, the crank '2' is grasped and, with the casing 1 held inthe other hand,the shaft 5 is pulled in a direction to move the table 13out of the casing through the open end thereof. The head 6 upon the endof the shaft is so located that while the inlaid portion 14 of the tablewill be completely removed from the casing, a portion of the inner endof the table will remain therein so that no difliculty will beexperienced in reinserting the table. Since the friction material 14covers an area slightly greater than the size of a razor blade the blademay be readily placed upon the table in engagement with the pins 15,even though the table is not completely withdrawn from the casing, andafter this is done then by forcing the table downwardly slightly againstthe tension of the springs 12 it may be easily reinserted into thecasing and, as will be readily seen, the springs, forcing the tableoutwardly, will force the edges of the blade into firm contact with theinner surface of the casing. By rotating the crank 7 the shaft 5, andstructure carried thereby, is also rotated'so as to constantly move theblade over the inner surface of the casing against which it bears.

While the casing herein shown and described is preferably made of glass,it is, of course, to be understood that applicant does not wish to limithimself to this particular material as any other suitable material maybe employed against Which the razor blade is pressed, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A razor blade sharpener, comprising a body having an interior circularabrading surface of glass, a shaft extending longitudinally through thebody upon the radial center of said surface, and supported for rotation,a tubular arm carried by said shaft within the casing and of a lengthless than the radius of the circular surface, a body reciprocable insaid arm and normally projecting from the free end thereof, a bladecarrymg table supported by said body, resilient means within said arm,normally urging said body outwardly, said table having the outer surfacethereof formed to support a razor blade with its edges in contact withthe abrading surface, and said shaft having limited longitudinalmovement and adapted to be removed from one end of the casing to alsoremove the blade supporting portion of the table therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflixmy signature. I

WVILDER E. COBB.

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